Pop-up transport

Reviewed

Project overview

Transport for NSW has delivered popup transport in response to COVID19, giving people more options to travel safely. We have provided more ways to exercise and to access local services, including public transport.

 

Bridge Road Pop-Up Cycleway

In 2022, Transport for NSW announced that the cycleway will be kept on Bridge Road permanently, with upgrades to be made.

The start of the permanent cycleway work on Bridge Road will occur after the completion of the power upgrade work for the new Sydney Fish Market. Once this work is finished, Transport for NSW will install the cycleway by removing the orange plastic separators and replacing with concrete separators. This work is expected to commence mid-2023.

Bridge Road is a key strategic bike riding route linking the Inner West to the City. In September 2020, we built the Pop-up Cycleway as part of the NSW Government's emergency response to COVID-19.

In 2021, we consulted the community on whether the pop-up cycleway would stay. We received over 1,000 survey responses to our Have Your Say about the cycleway. We thank everyone who gave their feedback.

After careful consideration, including investigating St Johns Road as an alternative route, based on the feedback received and the benefits of the cycleway – including improved safety, its growing use and delivery of a more sustainable travel option – the decision has been taken to keep it on Bridge Road permanently.

However, as a direct response to feedback, we will upgrade the current low-cost and temporary cycleway barrier, with its light-weight orange plastic paddles, to a more appropriate material. This will help achieve a better balance between moving people in a safe environment, while creating a cycleway better suited to the local area.

We will continue to update the local community about progress and next steps.

Pop-up cycleways commended by Greater Sydney Commission

 

Did you know by mid-year, more than 700,000 trips have been made on the pop-up cycleways, covering over 590,000 kms?

In June 2021, the Greater Sydney Commission recognised Transport for NSW’s delivery of new pop-up cycleways in its 2021 Greater Sydney Planning Awards. The cycleways received a commendation, in the ‘City Shaping during COVID-19’ category, which said:

The Panel commends TfNSW for its rapid response to COVID in quickly identifying and prioritising the provision of pop-up cycleways. As Sydneysiders rapidly took up commuting by bicycle and cycle shops did huge trade, TfNSW took the opportunity to test new cycleway routes and connections. Many lessons were learnt which will enable prioritisation of future infrastructure and will contribute positively to liveability and sustainability.”

Waverley and Woollahra update

In 2020 Transport for NSW announced a new pop-up cycleway on Curlewis Street, Bondi and O’Sullivan Road, Rose Bay as part of the NSW Government’s emergency response to COVID-19, to be delivered as a public health measure on the advice of health experts. Since then Transport for NSW, Waverley Council and Woollahra Council have continued to work together on the cycleway’s design. We are grateful for the community’s feedback and patience.

The O’Sullivan Road Cycleway is not going ahead at this time, as it has not been possible to secure a suitable design for a pop-up due to concerns over parking loss that would be required. Transport for NSW will continue to work with Woollahra Council to support the delivery of new and improved bike riding infrastructure.

Transport for NSW continues to help meet the unprecedented growth in bike riding and will work with Waverley Council to provide a further update about the planned Curlewis Street cycleway as soon as possible.

Greater Sydney project information

Pop-up cycleways delivered

In 2020 Transport for NSW, in consultation with the City of Sydney, delivered pop-up cycleways as part of the NSW Government's response to COVID-19.

These low-cost temporary cycleways with light-weight barriers were intended to give people a safe alternative to catching public transport or driving. They add links to the existing bike network and connect people with employment hubs.

The first stage of the work linked multiple cycling routes and improved cycleway access to the Sydney CBD, by quickly installing pop-up cycleways on:

  • Sydney Park Road, Alexandria / Erskineville (opened July 2020)
  • Henderson Road, Railway Pde and Bridge St, Eveleigh / Erskineville (opened July 2020)
  • Pitt St North, CBD (opened July 2020)
  • Dunning Avenue, Rosebery (opened August 2020)
  • Moore Park Road, Paddington / Moore Park (opened August 2020)
  • Bridge Road / Pyrmont Bridge Road, Glebe / Pyrmont (September 2020).

In March 2021, we invited the community to share their views about the Bridge Road, Glebe and Sydney Park Road, Erskineville pop-up cycleways, before any decisions are made on future plans. We are also considering improvements to make them more in keeping with the character of the area.

The City of Sydney is responsible for deciding the future of the other pop-up cycleways within the City of Sydney. These are Dunning Avenue, Pitt Street, Henderson Road, Moore Park Road and Fitzroy Street. The City of Sydney will update the community about the next steps for these routes.

Other cycleways delivered include:

Bridge Road Pop-up Cycleway

Transport for NSW recently announced that the cycleway will be kept on Bridge Road permanently, with upgrades to be made.

View or download the March 2022 Bridge Road community notification (PDF, 1.72Mb) or our Community Consultation Report (PDF, 1.82MB).

Sydney Park Road Pop-up Cycleway

 

Transport for NSW recently announced the Sydney Park Junction Project. This project will include the Sydney Park Road Pop-up Cycleway, as part of a comprehensive plan for the area, including King Street and the Princes Highway. It is an exciting project that will include a permanent, connected and separate cycleway.

This proposal addresses the feedback provided by over 400 people in our Sydney Park Road Pop-up Cycleway Have Your Say. You can read our report below.

The Sydney Park Junction Project is addressing a range of matters raised by the community. This proposal, in collaboration with the Inner West Council and the City of Sydney, addresses:

  • the connectivity of the cycleway
  • the extension and connectivity of the route
  • cycleway network issues
  • the entry and exits of the cycleway
  • barrier issues
  • amenity
  • safety issues such as the pedestrian interface and separation from vehicles
  • cycleway design, including surface and drainage.

Transport for NSW wants to return local streets to the community to enjoy by improving connectivity around St Peters, Sydney Park and King Street.

We propose to make St Peters and Erskineville more walkable, bikeable and create dynamic community spaces for al fresco dining, recreation and entertainment.

You can have your say on this new proposal. Visit the portal page.

Read our Sydney Park Road Pop-Up Cycleway Consultation Report (PDF, 2.3Mb).

Pop-up cycleways cancelled

From August 2020 in response to COVID-19, the NSW Government announced plans for a number of pop-up cycleways throughout NSW. In Greater Sydney, these light-weight and low-cost temporary cycleways were intended to give people a safe alternative to catching public transport or driving during the pandemic.

Since then and following detailed investigations, Transport for NSW has determined pop-up cycleways, consisting entirely of light-weight and low-cost materials, along Todman Avenue Kensington, Thomas Street Parramatta, and Pacific Highway North Sydney are not suitable.

Transport's decision to not proceed with plans for pop-up cycleways along these routes took into consideration a range of factors, including:

  • Traffic volumes returning to pre-COVID-19 levels in many areas
  • Design limitations of this light-weight and low-cost infrastructure
  • Community impacts

In 2021, Transport will continue to work with councils throughout NSW to continue to support the delivery of new and improved bike riding infrastructure.

Where pop-up cycleways have been introduced throughout NSW in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, communities will be consulted prior to any decisions being made on whether these cycleways will become permanent fixtures.

The NSW Government is investing around $710 million into walking and bike riding infrastructure over the next four years, bringing its total investment to around $1.1 billion - the largest commitment in the State's history.

Safer Speed Zones

Transforming Sydney's streets

We have delivered safer speed zones as part of our response to COVID-19, giving the community more options to walk, cycle and move around the city in a safer environment.

Speed change areas installed so far include:

  • Liverpool
  • Manly
  • Bridge Road and Pyrmont Bridge Road between Parramatta Road (Annandale) and the Western Distributor (Pyrmont)
  • The Crescent, Minogue Crescent, Ross Street between Link Road (Rozelle) and Bridge Road (Forest Lodge)
  • Oxford Street between College Street (Surry Hills) and Taylor Square (Darlinghurst)
  • Pyrmont
  • Ultimo
  • West Paddington
  • Camperdown and Newtown
  • Darlington

Pop-up transport maps

Regional NSW project information

Pop-up cycleways delivered

  • Nowra: new cycleways in Nowra CBD on Junction Street from O'Keefe Avenue to Stockland Nowra Shopping Centre.
  • Batemans Bay: new cycleways on Beach Road from Batehaven to Surf Beach.
  • Newcastle: new cycleways on Honeysuckle Drive. A reduced speed limit of 30km/hr is also to be trialled from Hannell Street along Honeysuckle Drive, Wharf Road and Shortland Esplanade to the Watt Street intersection. This will further improve pedestrian and bike rider safety along this popular route.
  • Goulburn, south of Goulburn city: new cycleways on Hume Street and Finlay Road that connect with off-road shared path infrastructure to provide a designated path for bike riders are now open.
  • Wollongong CBD: Wollongong City Council in partnership with the community is currently constructing cycling routes located in Wollongong's city centre.

 

Change the way you move!

To plan your journey, visit our trip planner website.

To see where you can ride, visit our Cycleway Finder website.

 

NSW street treatments for COVID recovery

Read Transport for NSW's NSW Street Treatments for COVID Recovery.

This resource is designed to support the rapid rollout of projects developed through the Streets as Shared Spaces program, but also other temporary or tactical interventions proposed by councils, communities, Transport for NSW, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment or other government agencies.

Great public spaces

The Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment want you to share your ideas for great streets as shared spaces.

COVID-19 information

For national information about COVID-19, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.

For information about what is happening in NSW, visit the NSW Government website.

Contact us

For further information about this project, please contact:

Phone: 1800 573 193